Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Junior or above
Location: Europe, Italy
GPA: 2.5
Applications for Spring Quarter close on 11/15/2025

Program Overview

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Sustainable Goal: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Gain a valuable perspective on Italy’s contribution to architectural, urban, and landscape design through the ages. The program begins in Rome with a two-week study tour that includes Siena, Florence and Bologna before taking up residence for eight weeks in Vicenza, where the focus will be on the design studio. Traveling and then living in an Italian town will give you a rich cultural experience, enhanced by coursework that will contribute to your academic progress toward your degree.

This is a competitive admission program. All eligible applicants will be interviewed by the faculty directors prior to an acceptance decision being made. Final acceptance decisions will be made after the application closes.

Program Scholarship: Applicants to this program have the option to apply for a program-specific scholarship. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay. Individual awards range from $200 - $1,000. To be considered, the Scholarship Essay must be completed by November 15th. Please refer to the Scholarship Essay instructions in the program application or speak with your GEO advisor for more details.

Dates and Deadlines

Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Spring Quarter 2026 11/15/2025 Mid-April Early July

This is a competitive admission program. All eligible applicants will be interviewed by the faculty directors prior to an acceptance decision being made. Early applications are encouraged.

This program is less than 90 days. Students with a US passport will be traveling to Italy under the Schengen Visa waiver program and do not require a travel visa for this program, and GEO is unable to assist U.S. citizens in obtaining a visa. If you are not a U.S. Citizen: Notify your GEO Advisor. Students who are not U.S. citizens should contact the Italian consulate in their country of residence about visa requirements, no matter the duration of the program of study.

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Hear from Our Students

Bye, Vicenza!

Students stand around a staff member, who is sharing about the buildings nearby in the outdoor square
Image Coming back to the U.S. was definitely a bittersweet experience. After being in Italy for 11 weeks, I had built such a solid friend group… read more

New Perspectives in Vicenza

Aerial view of students in an architecture classroom working on models
My time here in Vicenza has been partially what I expected. Nonetheless, it's also been a little more strenuous than I thought it would be, but that's actually been a great thing. The amount I've… read more

Between Cultures: An Architecture Student's Roman Adventure

Low point of view photo of 4 college students in a Roman cathedral
Hi, I’m Favi. I’m a Peruvian international student who has been living in Oregon for the past four years. Experiencing another country’s culture, food, and traditions has once again proven to be… read more

Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

Classes for the first two weeks will be fieldwork intensive and focus on the subject area courses. Classes at the Vicenza site will focus on studio and integrate the content of subject area courses with the studio project. Excursions are an integral and required component of the academic experience of the Vicenza program.

Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Additional Requirements

  • All classes will be in English, but a working knowledge of Italian is recommended.
  • This is a design intensive program for Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Landscape Architecture students.
  • You must be eligible for University of Oregon 4/584 (intermediate level) studio sequences. The following major pre-requisite courses must be completed by the term prior to the start of the program:
    • ARCH majors - ARCH 384
    • IARC majors - ARCH 383
    • LARC majors - LA 439
  • Graduate students are required to have a GPA of 3.0 or above

 

Faculty and Staff

Jim Givens is a professor of architecture at the University of Oregon and has maintained an active design practice since 1989. James places great emphasis on a design process that is closely tied to the site and to the reality of the building as it is being built. His current research investigates six houses for the depth of feeling and beauty that they possess.

Benjamin Waechter, FAIA, is an architect with over 25 years of experience on projects across the US.  He is the founder of Waechter Architecture which was established in 2008 and is known for its design clarity and innovative Mass Timber design.  Along with Oregon and Washington, WA is currently working on projects in Detroit Michigan, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sequoia National Park. Ben is a graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts where he participated in one of the school's Italy study abroad programs.  This study abroad experience led him to work for the Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Genoa, Italy.  

Housing Description

Live in an apartment, shared with other students on the program. Multi-room apartments will have two to four persons in a bedroom and access to full baths. The apartments have space for personal storage, a kitchenette and dining area, and washing machines with drying areas. Some students may be placed in a hotel instead of an apartment, depending on availability.

The apartments and hotel are located in the historic center within easy walking distance of the studio facilities and are close to markets, neighborhood stores, pizzerias and other restaurants. While in Vicenza, you will receive coupons and meal vouchers for weekday breakfasts and dinners. The breakfast coupons can be used at two different cafés, and the dinner vouchers are for a self-service restaurant of high quality in the center of town, where many working Vicentini eat regularly. You are responsible for other meals. Details about housing arrangements will be announced as they become available.

Budget and Price

Architecture in Vicenza

2025 Spring Quarter

Program Fees Paid to GEO
UO Study Abroad Fee* $500
Program Tuition $9,622
Housing and Included Meals $3,132
Local Transportation $2,536
Insurance $235
Other Estimated Expenses
Estimated Airfare from Eugene $1,500
Estimated Additional Meals $1,000
Estimated Cell Phone Expenses $150
Estimated Travel Clinic & Pre-departure Physical* $50
Estimated Cost of Acquiring Passport $150
Estimated Additional Living Expenses $1,500
Total
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance $20,375

Included in Program Costs: Program tuition, excursions, housing, medical insurance, some meals, course materials, pre-departure orientation, and on-site support

* Non-UO Students: study abroad fees and application fees vary by campus; check with your home campus study abroad office.

Please visit GEO Billing Information for information about how you will be billed and when payments are due.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date Cancellation Penalty
Upon acceptance to program

Student agrees to $500 non-refundable program deposit
8 weeks before program start date

Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees 
Program start date or after program begins

Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees 
Note that scholarship funds are not able to be applied to program deposit.

IMPORTANT: The GEO Cancellation Policy is effective from the time a student agrees to pay their non-refundable program deposit or electronically signs the program commitment form, regardless of application or acceptance status. It is essential to read this policy before a potential cancellation takes place, to fully understand the withdrawal and cancellation penalties, and to understand what it means financially to commit to a study abroad program.

Students who cancel their participation must notify GEO in writing. Email is acceptable (geoinfo@uoregon.edu). Verbal notification to GEO or notification given to a non-UO campus study abroad office is not sufficient.

For full details, see the complete GEO Cancellation Policy.

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